Coaches, Coaching Grants

BASI Level 2, UKCP Level 1 Coach. I have been skiing for many moons and love skiing in all its forms.

I have had 17 ski seasons, 3 in France, 4 traveling all over the snowy mountains. 1 in Canada, 1 in Italy and the rest in Scotland. I have been a lifty, instructor, a ski tech and a ski coach. I just like to be involved in as many aspects in the mountain as possible. I have been involved with the ski club since the epic winter of 2010. I love passing my passion of skiing on to everyone, and working with enthusiastic shredders is a great thing.

Gary Todd – U12 Alpine Programme Coach

I’m delighted to have been invited to join the CSC coaching team again for 2017-18 and I’m really looking forward to building on the club’s existing U12 race programme.

My experience in snowsports coaching, instructing and guiding is extensive. My specialist coaching interest is in developing entry level athletes and facilitating them to excel. Whilst my initial alpine race coaching experience was enhanced as a member of the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation, I have continued to develop my professional practice through new and progressive coaching methods. During my coaching career, I have been privileged to have coached some of Scotland’s top children racers and have led a number of programs, including the FASST U12 race camp programme at various alpine championships. I am also Head Coach with Muckhart and District Snowsports Club which runs an artificial based race training programme. In addition to skiing, I hold a range of qualifications in mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, various watersports and outdoor education. I am currently appointed as a training mentor and assessor for the UKCP L1 scheme and have experience of supporting candidates to successfully achieve ‘Licensed’ coach status.

John McCook – Alpine Coach P/T

John is the one with the Ball!

BASI Level 2 qualified coach. I first started coaching with the club around four years ago. Over this time, I have also been involved in coaching many other sports including swimming, football, golf and many more!

I first started training with the club as a youngster in the winter of 2000. Coaching has always been an interest of mine and in 2012 I graduated with an HND in Sports Coaching and Development of Sport from Aberdeen College while also working as a youth coach at Aberdeen Football Club. Now though, I am a 3rd year student at Stirling University and while there is a lot of work, I always make sure there is plenty time for participating in sport!

I currently hold my BASI 2 coaching license and I am looking to start working on my level 3 as soon as possible. Fingers crossed for a cold and snowy winter!

Amanda Shephard – Alpine Coach

Like the other coaches I started skiing at a young age and was instantly hooked. Not in the race scene, I went down the Instructor route so I was able to keep skiing full time and make it a career.

Always working hard to keep learning and progress my skills, I have worked winters on Cairngorm Mountain ever since, and have had the pleasure to work alongside some of the most fantastic instructors and coaches in the world. I co-owned and directed the Ski and Snowboard School and very proudly established the highly successful Snowlimit children’s programme which ran for 12 years and taught over 2000 kids to ski and snowboard.

I absolutely love to teach and am always very excited to pass on my passion, knowledge and experience to others in a relaxed and fun environment.

I started skiing when I was 4 years old and have been involved in ski racing since about the age of 10. I started skiing at Cairngorm about 8 years ago. In my time I have trained and competed in countries like France, Italy and Austria. My favourite ski resort is Hintertux in Austria. I have raced in many different events at in Scotland and abroad including the British children’s championships. This has granted me fantastic experience and knowledge which I am looking forward to sharing again with the trainees at Cairngorm ski club.

Donald Hall P/T

Skiing has been a big part of my life and I was lucky to grow up ‘shredding the gorm’ before the term shred was even hip!

I have been involved with CSC for over 20 years (wow, that’s scary). Looking back, I started as a bairns trainee in the early 90’s and began coaching with CSC in 2002/3 until 2009/10. As a trainee, the club provided the platform for me to go onto the British Children’s Team and the Scottish Team, training and racing all over Europe. As a coach, CSC helped me develop from a trainee coach all the way up to head coach where I worked on home & foreign snow and on camps with FAST, the Scottish team and with University teams.

I graduated from Strathclyde University in 2008 with a BA Hons in Outdoor Education and began working as a Development Coordinator with Snowsport Scotland. I worked with them for four years and was involved with snowsports events, training and development across the country. I then decided to take some time out to travel and work in B.C. Canada. One season turned into two as it so often does out there (awesome country!). I worked as a fulltime FIS coach with Vernon Ski Club in 2011/12 and as a part time Children’s coach with Revelstoke Ski Club in 2012/13. I gained valuable experience with the CSCF system and on the BC & Alberta FIS & K race circuit, working alongside some top level coaches and athletes. I also worked part time for a heliski company which was not the worst gig in the world!

When not coaching, I enjoy backcountry skiing, cycling and various other sports. I recently started a job with Scottish Cycling, so working with clubs and events development in another fun sport. I look forward to helping out again with CSC and I am sure many of the once little rippers are now big rippers!

Rosie Latto

COACHING QUALIFICATION GRANTS

This grant is dependent on the applicant’s commitment to the Club and is for coaching courses only. These courses would be run by Snowsport Scotland and not BASI and be reviewed annually.

For two years commitment to coaching with CSC or less: £150.00

For more than 2 years commitment to coahing with CSC: £300

These payments are only made on successful passing of courses and each applicant must produce a PDP (Personal Development Plan) as part of their application.